Immunological Aspects in Oncology – Circulating γδ T Cells

Czech version

Authors: M. Cibulka ^1,2; I. Selingerová ¹; L. Fědorová ¹; Zdražilová Dubská L. ^1–3
Authors‘ workplace: Regionální centrum aplikované molekulární onkologie, Masarykův onkologický ústav, Brno ¹; Advanced Cell Immunotherapy Unit, Farmakologický ústav, LF MU, Brno ²; Oddělení laboratorní medicíny, Masarykův onkologický ústav, Brno ³
Published in: Klin Onkol 2015; 28(Supplementum 2): 60-68
doi: https://doi.org/10.14735/amko20152S60

Overview

γδ T cells present a minor population of the T cell family which basically differs in construction of their T cell receptor (TCR). Thanks to the features of γδ TCR, these cells can acquire unique effector functions and play a specific role (not only) in anti‑tumor immune response. In this article, we describe the basic characteristics of this cell population and their connection to cancer. In the experimental part we performed exploratory analysis of circulating γδ T cells in reference population and comparison with melanoma and breast carcinoma patients. The median percentage of γδ T cells from all lymphocytes was 2.9% (interquartile range – IQR 1.7– 4%). The median absolute numbers of γδ cells per liter of blood was 5.05 × 10⁷ (IQR 2.9– 7.84 × 10⁷). The median percentage of γδ cells between all CD3 T cells was 3.9% (IQR 2.3– 5.6%). No correlation between γδ T cells levels and gender or age was observed in reference population. Detailed immunophenotyping was also conducted describing representation of memory subsets (using CD45RO and CD27 markers) and presence of surface markers HLA‑Dr, CD69, CD25, CD28, CCR7, CTLA‑ 4, ICOS, PD‑ 1L and PD‑ 1 between γδ T cells of the controls and breast carcinoma patients. From this analysis, it is evident that γδ T cells do not represent a uniform population but they differ in surface markers as well as in their effector functions.

Key words:
γδ T cells –cancer – immune system – peripheral blood – immunotherapy – T lymfocytes

This study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the State Budget of the Czech Republic (RECAMO, CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0101), by the projects MEYS – NPS I – LO1413, ACIU LM201117, and by MH CZ – DRO (MMCI, 00209805).

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers.

Submitted:
4. 5. 2015

Accepted:
9. 7. 2015

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